The collapse of communism and the rise of ethnic strife plunged the southern fringes of
the former Soviet Union into turmoil, particularly in the Caucasus where some
1.5 million people had been
forced from their homes in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Although there was sporadic
media coverage of the fighting, the world was largely unaware of the human suffering that
followed for hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people in all
three republics. WomenAid International was invited to provide
assistance in the region.

"The Administration of Yerevan school
number 48, Mushegh Ishkha, expresses its deepest gratitude to WomenAid
International. Thanks to your activities Armenian children will feel more comfortable this winter.
Armenian people will never forget those who have done such an important job"

'Ts. K.
Ghazarian, School Director
Chief Doctor K.V. Sekoyan

ARMENIA

WomenAid International, as an implementing partner of the
European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), provided large scale humanitarian
assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in need.

Over 2000 tonnes of
supplementary food and hygienic items were distributed to 125,000 long stay hospital
patients and to 388,000 school children suffering from an inadequate diet.

WomenAid, as one of the key operational partners of the UN
World Food Programme in the region distributed almost 8,000 tonnes of food to 140,000
refugees and 100,000 IDPs, internally displaced people throughout the country.

Due to the severe economic crisis following the collapse
of the USSR and war with Azerbaijan, the Armenian government was unable to repair
hospitals, schools
and institutions.

WomenAid
International, funded by ECHO, trained over 500 workers and implemented major
repairs in 33 key national hospitals and 22 schools. The project was
implemented in four months.

"Administration of the Clinical
Hospital No.8 expresses its deepest gratitude to WomenAid International for carrying out
the repair works in our institution. At present, when the State has no means to help us,
your activities are becoming more valuable."

Chief
Doctor, K V Sekoyan.

"The
Republic of Armenia, Ministry of Health, expresses its gratitude to
WomenAid International for carrying out the Hospitals Repair Programme
during these difficult times in Armenia. I know this programme is
the only one of its kind in Armenia on such a scale being implemented by
humanitarian organisations. I should like to remark the short time
scale of the programme within which the workers managed to do the repair
construction works at a highly professional level."

Deputy
Minister Health, G Shmavonian.

GEORGIA

Extreme hardship and deprivation was experienced by the
entire population as Georgia, once one of the richest states of the former USSR, became
one of the poorest successor states. The gaining of independence in 1991 triggered off
ethnic conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia leading to a civil war. As a result there
was a massive displacement of people. Necessary economic reforms inflicted further
hardship on the poor.

WomenAid emergency food programmes provided over 2000
tonnes of food to internally displaced people (IDP's) and 115,000 pre-school children in
kindergartens throughout the country. Street children in Tbilisi were also assisted.

In partnership with the UN World Food Programme, WomenAid
delivered winter food supplies to refugees and other vulnerable people, living in the
highest villages in Europe, in the remote mountains of Svaneti and Kodory Valley,
Apkhazeti.

Street children find shelter from
freezing winter weather in an abandoned building in Mtsketa, Republic of Georgia.

Visit
Womenaid International's Georgian Partner Organisation for an update on activities
in Caucasus: